Sunday, June 12, 2011

More Training

Well, I am all signed up for the Echo Valley
race. I am really excited about that. Endurance mountain bike racing
really does sound like something right up my alley. Plus my new bike is
all set up and running like a top. So I took it out today to do a bit of
training.

I rode out of Issaquah and up to Preston to
drop some stuff off with a friend. Then it was back along the trail and a
rode up around Grand Ridge.
The first couple of switchbacks from the High Point trailhead were
killing me though. I thought I was in better shape than that. I was
really huffing and puffing.

Once I got up to the ridge,
things got a bit easier and I was enjoying it more. I also started
using my middle chainring. I am really glad to have that. On trails it
gives me much better gearing ratios than the large one. I am still not
sure the granny gear is so useful, but I can worry about that later.

The upper trails were all full of puddles and mud. It felt good to get out and get dirty. By the time I got back home I was covered in mud. I took a shower and washed the bike before heading into town.

In
the evening I met up with the guys from .83 for another Thursday ride. I
think it is the longest ride I have been on with them. I was a nice
night for it, so I can't say that I mind. We ended up cruising over
Beacon Hill and then down into Renton. Then back up the Duwamish and
into Seattle. It was over 30 miles round trip. Despite being on my my
fat tired mountain bike, I was still able to keep up with the group.
Yee-haw. Hopefully that will keep me in good training for the ride this
weekend.